Chief Inspector's Report 2002
8 Essex and Suffolk Water Plc
| Overall Water Quality supplied by Essex and Suffolk Water Plc in 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Water Quality at Treatment Works, in Service Reservoirs and in Water Supply Zones
To be wholesome, water must comply with the standards for the parameters set out in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989. In 2002, the Company carried out a total of 120,728 tests on samples taken at water treatment works, from service reservoirs and in water supply zones and of these, 99.93% complied with the relevant water quality standards set down in the Regulations. A list of the parameters, the relevant standards and their significance can be found at the beginning of this section.
Water Quality leaving Treatment works
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
||
| Number of water treatment works | 25 |
25 |
26 |
|
| COLIFORMS | ||||
| Total number of tests | 4,066 |
4,133 |
4,192 |
|
| - | number containing coliforms | 4 |
5 |
6 |
| - | % containing coliforms | 0.10% |
0.12% |
0.14% |
| Treatment works with coliforms detected | 3 |
3 |
4 |
|
| - | % of all works with coliforms detected | 12.00% |
12.00% |
15.38% |
| FAECAL COLIFORMS | ||||
| Total number of tests | 4,066 |
4,133 |
4,192 |
|
| - | number containing faecal coliforms | 0 |
1 |
1 |
| - | % containing faecal coliforms | 0.00% |
0.02% |
0.02% |
| Treatment works with faecal coliforms detected | 0 |
1 |
1 |
|
| - | % of all works with faecal coliforms detected | 0.00% |
4.00% |
3.85% |
Failures of the coliform standard at three works in 2002 were considered trivial or unlikely to recur as a result of remedial action taken by the Company. There were no failures of the faecal coliform standard. Differences over the last three years in the number of treatment works, and in the number of tests carried out on samples from treatment works, in which coliforms or faecal coliforms were detected were not considered significant.
In 2002, 1,392 regulatory samples for Cryptosporidium were taken at four sites. Very low numbers of oocysts were detected in two samples from two sites. All results were well below the treatment standard and there were no reported outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis.
Water Quality in Service Reservoirs
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
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| Number of service reservoirs | 106 |
104 |
110 |
|
| COLIFORMS | ||||
| Total number of tests | 5,228 |
5,178 |
5,402 |
|
| - | number containing coliforms | 10 |
20 |
43 |
| - | % containing coliforms | 0.19% |
0.39% |
0.80% |
| Service reservoirs with coliforms detected | 9 |
17 |
31 |
|
| Service reservoirs with coliforms detected | 0 |
0 |
5 |
|
| in more than 5% of tests | ||||
| - | % of all service reservoirs with coliforms detected | 0.00% |
0.00% |
4.55% |
| FAECAL COLIFORMS | ||||
| Total number of tests | 5,228 |
5,178 |
5,402 |
|
| - | number containing faecal coliforms | 1 |
0 |
3 |
| - | % containing faecal coliforms | 0.02% |
0.00% |
0.06% |
| Service reservoirs with faecal coliforms detected | 1 |
0 |
3 |
|
| - | % of all service reservoirs with faecal coliforms detected | 0.94% |
0.00% |
2.73% |
There were no failures of the coliform standard at any of the service reservoirs. The detection of faecal coliforms at one service reservoir was considered trivial. There has been a significant decrease since 2000 in the number of service reservoirs, and in the number of tests carried out on samples from service reservoirs, in which total coliforms were detected. All other differences were not considered significant.
Water Quality in Water Supply Zones
The table below shows the data for the key parameters and any other parameters where there was a failure of the standard. All other parameters were fully compliant.
| Parameter | Total number of tests |
Tests not meeting the prescribed concentration or value |
Number of failures covered by Undertakings |
Number of zones not complying with the standards |
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No |
% |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
|||
| Coliforms | 4,464 |
24 |
0.54 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Faecal coliforms | 4,464 |
3 |
0.07 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
| Colour | 972 |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Turbidity | 559 |
1 |
0.18 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Odour | 538 |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Taste | 538 |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Hydrogen ion | 972 |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Nitrate | 2,116 |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Nitrite | 2,068 |
23 |
1.11 |
0 |
8 |
13 |
26 |
| Aluminium | 559 |
1 |
0.18 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Iron | 1,489 |
4 |
0.27 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
| Manganese | 559 |
1 |
0.18 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Lead | 980 |
2 |
0.20 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
| PAH | 272 |
1 |
0.37 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Trihalomethanes | 332 |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Total pesticides | 2,058 |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Carbetamide | 1,949 |
11 |
0.56 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
| Other pesticides | 65,166 |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Nickel | 77 |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Total Hardness | 275 |
1 |
0.36 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| All others | 10,341 |
0 |
0.00 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| TOTAL | 100,748 |
72 |
0.07% |
3 |
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| 66 zones in 2000, 2001 and 2002 | |||||||
The fifth column indicates the number of failures in zones already covered by legally binding undertakings given by the Company. These undertakings require remedial work to be carried out to ensure compliance with the individual standard.
The New Regulations
In 2002, the Company carried out monitoring for the six new parametric values set down in the new Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000. These Regulations come into force on 25 December 2003. The results are shown in the table below.
| Parameter | Total number of tests |
New standard |
Tests not meeting the new standard |
| Benzene | 103 |
1.0 µg/l |
0 |
| Bromate | 248 |
10.0 µg/l |
0 |
| 1,2 dichloroethane | 103 |
3.0 µg/l |
0 |
| Nitrite (ex-water treatment works) | 103 |
0.1 mg/l |
0 |
| Clostridium perfringens | 70 |
0/100 ml |
0 |
| Enterococci | 248 |
0/100 ml |
0 |
Compliance data for 2002 has also been analysed against the revised standards and the results are shown in the following table.
| Parameter | Total number or tests |
Current Standard |
Number of tests not meeting current standard |
Revised Standard |
Number of tests not meeting revised standard |
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| Antimony | 66 |
10.0 µg/l |
0 |
5.0 µg/l |
0 |
|||
| Arsenic | 66 |
50.0 µg/l |
0 |
10.0 µg/l |
0 |
|||
| Boron | 66 |
2.0 mg/l |
0 |
1.0 mg/l |
0 |
|||
| Copper | 264 |
3.0 mg/l |
0 |
2.0 mg/l |
0 |
|||
| Lead | 980 |
50.0 µg/l |
2 |
25.0 µg/l1 |
2 |
|||
10.0 µg/l2 |
22 |
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| Nickel | 77 |
50.0 µg/l |
0 |
20.0 µg/l |
0 |
|||
| Nitrite (at consumers' taps) | 2,068 |
0.1 mg/l |
23 |
0.5 mg/l |
0 |
|||
| PAH | 272 |
0.2 µg/l |
1 |
0.1 µg/l |
1 |
|||
| Tetrachloroethene | 264 |
30.0 µg/l |
|
10.0 µg/l
|
0
|
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| Trichloroethene | 264 |
10.0 µg/l |
Details of the new and revised standards, and the reasons for the revisions where applicable, can be found in chapter J "New Regulations and Associated Programmes of Work".
1 From 25.12.03
2 From 25.12.13
Company Audit and Inspection
The Company was inspected or audited by the Inspectorate or its appointed consultants on a number of occasions during 2002. Where relevant, report summaries are available in the 'Business and Technical' section of the Inspectorate's web site under 'Audit and Inspection'.
| Audit or Inspection | Date |
| Inspection of Cryptosporidium monitoring sites | Various dates throughout the year |
| Audit of progress with regulatory programmes of work | March 2002 |
| Inspection of laboratory analysing for Cryptosporidium | September 2002 |
| Audit of response to selected consumer complaints | September 2002 |
| Review of the distribution system undertaking | October 2002 |
| Inspection of two water treatment works and two service reservoirs | November 2002 |
| Inspection of in situ lining of mains | November 2002 |
| Review of plumbosolvency treatment and control programmes for lead | November 2002 |
| Audit of analytical requirements for nitrate and nitrite | November 2002 |
| Audit trails of ten test results | December 2002 |
A number of recommendations were made in respect of action required to avoid the risk of a breach of a regulatory duty. These recommendations were in relation to the analytical requirements for nitrate and nitrite and plumbosolvency treatment for lead.
Incidents
The Inspectorate regarded three of the events notified during 2002 by the Company as incidents. For further details on the classification of incidents, see chapter C "Events affecting Water Quality" in Part 3.
Two of the incidents have been assessed by the Inspectorate. Each was of short duration and the Company has taken appropriate remedial action. A number of recommendations were made regarding sampling and procedures.
The third incident remains under investigation.
| Nature of incident | No. of incidents |
Assessment completed |
Area affected |
Population potentially |
| Microbiological
contamination of supplies |
2 |
Yes |
Rainham (August) |
25 |
Roxwell (September) |
7 |
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1 |
No |
Tilbury (April) |
2 |
Enforcement Action
No enforcement action was considered for the Company as a result of the Inspectorate's activities during 2002.
Undertakings and other Improvement Programmes
Water treatment works and service reservoirs
One Regulation 41 programme of work to meet the new and revised standards set down in the new Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 was due for completion in 2002. This was to monitor nitrate levels at Langford and install treatment if necessary. The monitoring was completed on schedule and no treatment was necessary.
No other improvement programmes were due for completion during 2002.
Distribution
The ongoing distribution system undertaking has been progressing satisfactorily. During 2002, 56 km of mains have been renovated. The Company is required to renovate a further 774 km of mains by December 2010.
Lead
The Company has a Regulation 41 programme of work to meet the revised standard for lead set down in the new Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000, which will come into force on 25 December 2003. Progress with the delivery of the programme is monitored by the Inspectorate and has been satisfactory.
